the 5 keys to excellence in Toulouse training

While Stade Toulousain faces Stade Rochelais this Friday (9 p.m.) in the semi-final of the Top 14 and continues its road towards a second championship-European Cup double in three years, the “youth” teams of the top club Garonnais are also in great shape. The Espoirs (-21 years) won their championship for the second year in a row, when the Crabos section (-18 years) will play a semi-final on Saturday to seek, like their elders, a second title in a row. Two teams in which a large part of Antoine Dupont’s current teammates learned their classes.

58 is the number of players used this season by Stade Toulousain in the championship. An unusual number when we know the consistency displayed by the reigning French champion. Undisputed leader of the regular phase of an ever tougher championship. Maintaining such regularity despite so many staff rotations, particularly during periods of duplication, is a real achievement. And the “Stadium” owes this largely to its training center, recognized as one of the best in the world.

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A constant link between the hopefuls and the pros

The proportion of players from the training center in the professional group at Stade Toulousain is almost 70%. An exceptional statistic in any high-level sport and which proves the porosity between the training center and Ugo Mola’s first team. This year, players like Joël Merkler, Mathis Castro-Ferreira and Paul Costes have established themselves in the team, sometimes relegating more experienced players to the bench. Choices made by the staff who put performance above all else, regardless of age. And which also shows the speed of integration of its young players into the collective full of stars and internationals of the club from the pink city.

The Toulouse-style game

The Toulouse-style game is surely one of the major factors in the success of the Haut Garonne team. A game made of movement and freedom. Since the creation of the club, he has embodied the identity and success of this institution with 22 French championship titles. From a very young age, young people from Toulouse learn to play in the same way, regardless of age category. A particularity that the Stade Toulousain forwards coach, Virgile Lacombe, explained to RMC Sport: “It’s the identity of the club because even with little ones, we encourage play, movement, and initiative. Even if you go to see the under-8s, the under-10s, at the start, they may not be too effective in tackles and in combat phases. On the other hand, they will try to keep the ball alive, to try things. And it’s true that the club does not want to restrict the players in taking initiative and that is perhaps reflected later on the professional team when they come to speak with us. Through this philosophy, the Haut Garonnais club ensures that it trains players who are perfectly suited to the game plan of its first team.

Training by example

Hopes who reach the high level also thanks to the strength of example. Each year several young players join the professional team and shine in the eyes of French rugby. The careers of players like Romain Ntamack, Cyril Baille and Thomas Ramos are real sources of inspiration for Toulouse youth. “Success stories” which give a taste of what is possible to all the young stars of the club, and show them that their dreams are not unattainable. This is what Michel Marfaing, sports director of the Stade Toulousain Training Center, explains to Rugbyrama: “For us, it’s super important. They show all the young people at the training center that it is possible. It gives them hope, they say to themselves: ”They are there, so if we continue to work and refine the little gaps that we have, we will be there too”. It creates a dynamic that boosts everyone.”

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A staff of former players

A dynamic maintained by a staff of educators and coaches who have all been players for Stade Toulousain (Ugo Mola, David Mélé, Clément Poitrenaud, etc.). A guarantee of transmission but also of demands from personalities attached to the club and its identity. But the crucial point remains the constant link between the hopeful pole and the professional pole with coaches involved at the same time on both teams. Like Jérôme Kaino, former Toulouse player and All Blacks legend, who today serves as “Assistant Skills Coach” for professionals and U21 players. “This link on the hopeful category, with coaches who are both in the professional sector and on the hopefuls, is important, underlines Virgile Lacombe. As a result, they are very demanding with our young players and try as much as possible to prepare them, already in training. And then, afterwards, to match as quickly as possible. Because we know very well that with the number of international players we have at the club, they will quickly be exposed.

The use of “loan”

Another factor in the progression of young Toulouse players is the “loan”. Many hopefuls are sent to Pro D2 clubs so that they can become more seasoned through successive matches. A way to develop players physically in a particularly long and tough championship. “For these players, the loan is an important step without which they could not have continued to perform. There is a level between the Espoir level and the Top 14, and loans allow you to cross it,” explains Michel Marfaing. Examples are legion in the current collective. Thomas Ramos spent a season at Colomiers before performing in Toulouse and becoming one of the best full-backs in the world. Léo Banos, a 20-year-old third row loaned to Stade Montois for two seasons, has made a name for himself in Pro D2 and will return to Toulouse for the next year. He is already being courted by many clubs. Three great hopes of “Stade”, Ian Boubila, Paul Mallez and Eto Bainivalu, have just joined Pro D2 semi-finalist, Provence Rugby, on loan for next season.

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